FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Christina Fonseca
267-670-2757
christina@growingplacesindy.org
SPRING KICKS-OFF WITH THE 25th SEASON OF INDIANAPOLIS’ ORIGINAL FARMERS MARKET
INDIANAPOLIS, IN., (April 19, 2021) – A staple in downtown Indianapolis for many years, The Original Farmers’ Market, hosted by The Indianapolis City Market, will reopen for its 25th season Wednesday, May 5th. The Original Farmers’ Market will run every Wednesday, May through the end of October, rain or shine from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., and is located outside on Market Street just one block over from the historic farmer’s market location. Due to ongoing construction, a portion of the market will be located only 250 feet away from the IndyCM campus, directly off the Cultural Trail. The information booth, SNAP redemption, new vendors, and fun activities for families like Bocce Ball and Cornhole will be located on the East Plaza.
Perfectly situated in the heart of Indianapolis, The Original Farmers’ Market offers open-air opportunities for downtown employees and residents to purchase local farm-fresh produce.
The Historic Indianapolis City Market has been an excellent place for small, well-known, locally owned businesses to get their start, and The Original Farmer’s Market is no different, offering some of Indiana’s finest products, including honey, cheeses, maple syrup, baked goods and much more.
The market will feature up to twenty-five local farmers and small businesses outside, in addition to the twenty-five current Indianapolis City Market merchants located inside at 222 East Market Street. From fruits and vegetables and meats and cheeses, to confections and unique spices and herbs, visitors can find fresh foods that have been hand-selected at their peak. This year the market has also partnered with Growing Places Indy, a local non-profit organization, to offer additional volunteer support and host Family & Cooking Nutrition classes in the Indianapolis City Market demo kitchen.
For those who utilize snap benefits, The Original Farmers’ Market will offer the dollar-for-dollar matching program, doubling spending up to $20 through the Fresh Bucks Program. For more information, shoppers can visit the “FAQs in a SNAP” post on the City Market website.
Also administered through the Original Farmers’ Market is the Buy 2 Give 1 program. The food gleaning program encourages shoppers to purchase additional items for those who are in need of fresh, healthy products. All of the donations are made at the City Market tent during the Original Farmers’ Market hours and are given to homeless missions to prepare healthy meals for those in need. Annually, thousands of pounds of produce are given to those who need it most through the program. In fact, nearly 3,000 lbs of fresh Indiana-grown produce was gleaned throughout the 2018 Original Farmers’ Market season.
“Now more than ever, it is critical to provide our communities with access to fresh, local food in our location downtown while helping to create foot traffic to support our indoor market house merchants,” says Mandy Wright Jarrett, Market Master of OFM and Manager of Operations/Facilities of The Indianapolis City Market. “Farmers Markets have proven to be an essential resource for many individuals, as well as small businesses during the pandemic. Not only are shoppers filling their basket with good-tasting, healthy foods, but they are also supporting the local growers and small businesses dedicated to providing us with the freshest foods available.”
Changes and precautions have also been made to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. The market will be continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation, rules, and regulations and adhering to CDC guidelines and the recommendations of state and local health department officials. Social distancing will be strictly enforced, and guests are encouraged to bring masks and gloves. On-site hand-washing stations have also been made available, and pre-ordering and pre-paying vendors are encouraged. A list of vendor contacts can be found at indycm.com.
For more information on the Original Farmers’ Market, follow them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and visit https://www.indycm.com.
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About Indianapolis City Market
The Indianapolis City Market’s history is as rich as the promise of its future. When opened in 1886, the market ushered in a new tradition: an open space for the sale of meats and produce, The Original Gathering Place, if you will. Indianapolis City Market is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a vibrant downtown event destination. Today, the City Market offers patrons an experience that combines the best of both yesterday and today with a wide variety of eateries, retailers, coffee, and a barbershop, with many merchants offering delivery services. This year the Indianapolis City Market will host the 25th Annual Original Farmer’s Market running May through October 2021. Indianapolis City Market Catacombs tours are regularly available in partnership with Indiana Landmarks. The Original Farmers Market features bocce ball courts, cornhole, and ample outdoor seating to play and enjoy live music on occasion.
